Philadelphia Phillies: 4 Players Who Should Have Been Traded at the Deadline

Philadelphia Phillies: 4 Players Who Should Have Been Traded at the Deadline

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Ruben Amaro Jr.'s fire sale of the 2012 Philadelphia Phillies has left them an aging $170 million Triple-A team, a ghost of what once was.

After trading Shane Victorino, Hunter Pence and Joe Blanton, the Phillies find themselves searching for some sort of identity. They also recently released Mike Fontenot, who was replaced by Michael Martinez from Lehigh Valley.

If Amaro wants to complete the fire sale, there are still several pieces left on the current roster he can try to move. Older players with no upside and bad contracts still plague this team. Hopefully, some more moves will be made, allowing the Phillies to sign some big free agents for 2013.

Here are four players who should have also been moved before the July deadline.

Juan Pierre

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Since the trade deadline, the Phillies have made it apparent they are going to allow John Mayberry Jr. and Domonic Brown to have a tryout for a 2013 outfield position.

At least let's hope, because if both of them are starting on Opening Day in 2013, the Phillies are in serious trouble.

Juan Pierre is batting .312 with 27 stolen bases in limited play and is sitting the bench.

If you're thinking to yourself, why in the world isn't he playing every day—so is everyone else.

If Ruben and Charlie are committed to Mayberry and Brown, they should have traded Juan Pierre for almost anything in return. Juan is a free agent after the season and most likely will not be re-signed.

Pierre has clearly shown he can still play and could be useful to a team looking for a quality leadoff hitter. Look for Pierre to move to a contender if the Phillies decide to place him on waivers.

Cliff Lee

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If the Phillies were able to move Cliff Lee's contract, they would have enough money to make a run at a top free agent or two and also reshape their existing franchise.

Cliff Lee will earn $25 million next season, hardly a salary for a pitcher with a 2-6 record.

Lee's other numbers are decent, just not worth $25 million for 34 starts. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand those numbers do not sound economical.

The Texas Rangers have great prospects and are a team in need of pitching for their October run. It seemed like a match made in heaven, but Cliff Lee's contract is too long and for too much money—yet another contract given by Ruben Amaro Jr. that will haunt the Phillies for years to come.

Fortunately, Cliff Lee was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Dodgers. If the price is right, it would be foolish not to move Cliff Lee's contract. 2013 and beyond depends on it.

Ty Wigginton

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Ty Wigginton has a $4 million option for 2013, which should not be extended.

To free up some more cash, Ruben Amaro should have shipped Ty to an American League team looking for a power bat off the bench.

Ty has made it clear that he can no longer play any defensive position except for first base.

This makes him expendable, and Ruben Amaro Jr. should have shipped him out of town before the deadline.

Ty will also turn 35 in October. The more aging players the Phillies can ship out of town the better.

Wigginton is batting .232 with 35 RBI and nine home runs in 263 at-bats in 2012. Those are quality power numbers for a bench player who can play a little first base.

Jimmy Rollins

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This past offseason, Jimmy Rollins signed a three-year, $33 million contract with a very achievable vesting option for the 2015 season.

Rollins is having a very disappointing 2012, a common theme for the majority of the Phillies in 2012.

The Phillies are paying $11 million a year for a job that Freddy Galvis can do just as well for one-eleventh of the price with a much higher upside.

In 2012, Rollins' batting average has dwindled down to .246, and he was scratched from the game on Sunday. His all-around numbers continue to decline. Re-signing him for fours years and not evaluating the ability of Freddy Galvis correctly resulted in another bloated Phillies contract.

Jimmy Rollins is a shell of the player he once was—this team can no longer rely on him to be the engine of their offense, and he should have be traded.

A quality defensive shortstop who can hit for a little power is tough to find in the major leagues. Teams may have been interested in Jimmy at the deadline, but Jimmy's overpriced contract cuffed the hands of Phillies management.